Zipping Around Oak Park

Zipcar, the pay-as-you-go car sharing company, debuted its services in Oak Park with a ribbon-cutting Wednesday.

"We really are committed to, over time, moving farther south, farther west and farther north and expanding to more of the Chicagoland area," said Jonathan Gonsky, general manager of Zipcar Chicago.

"Oak Park was a logical first step in moving farther west," he added, standing near two of the company's vehicles.

Gonsky added that Oak Park's proximity to Chicago — and its eco-conscious residents — contributed to the decision to expand here.

There will be six Zipcar vehicles stationed at three CTA Green Line stops, Gonsky said. An expansion putting Zipcars at Blue Line stops is also under consideration.

Zipcar members have access to a vehicle with a full tank of gas and insurance, and they can travel as far as 180 free miles each day. The company offers two payment plans based on how much a member intends to drive.

The most popular plan is the "occasional driving plan," which requests a $25 fee at sign-up and $50 annually. Hourly and daily rates, as well as details on a special "extra value plan" for frequent commuters, can be found at Zipcar's website.

The company's arrival marks yet another environmentally-friendly way for residents to get around town and beyond.

Chicago-based I-GO Car Sharing already maintains a small fleet of low-emission vehicles in Oak Park and offers rates competitive to Zipcar.

And Greenline Wheels, 105 S. Marion St., plans to add up to five electric vehicles to its fleet of rental bicycles.

Services like I-GO, Greenline Wheels and Zipcar — coupled with Oak Park's abundant public transportation options — are giving residents a look into the possible future of transportation.

"Zipcar's long-term vision," Gonsky said, "is to have more car sharers than car owners."